A meeting of reflection, wanting to raise awareness and help dispel the shame associated with the opioid crisis has resulted in a unique one-day wellness clinic and evening concert.
Songs For Healing: Raising Our Voices For The Opioid Crisis will be held near Lumby at the Camo Country Events centre, 45 Trinity Valley Road on Saturday, Oct. 5.
The event will raise voices, awareness and funds for the ongoing opioid crisis with proceeds going to Bill's Place, (an arm of Turning Points Collaborative Society) a 19-bed sober-living community in Vernon that provides a safe space to embark on the path of addiction recovery.
Wellness workshops and stalls will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while an evening concert will run from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m.
"Songs For Healing is a one-day mini wellness festival featuring workshops, live music, food, vendor market and a dance-party to close the festivities," said, organizer Kiley Routley, CEO of Lavington-based Back to Earth, a local ethical products company.
Routley conceived the event with the help of Devaki Thomas, former member of the group Samsara, and well-known as the co-founder of the Komasket Music Festival.
The pair met last summer to reminisce about the festival at its home, Komasket Park, located off Westside Road. Thomas was visiting from London in June, and had hosted a similar, yet smaller event at Vernon's Tidal Elements Healing Arts Studio, organized by Melanie Piorecky.
Thomas will return to Vernon from the UK for Songs For Healing, and will be joined by her husband/musical partner, Thomas Thomas. Both former Vernonites and founding members of world-beat band Samsara, they formed Stunflower, a new band in 2017. They will play a feature set for the evening concert, along with facilitating workshops during the day.
Together for 37 years, the Thomases form the core of Stunflower with guesting musicians adding their groove. Their music mashes up psychedelic folk, reggae, soca and mantra rock. Somatic meditation, healing songs, soulful connection and guest musicians will accompany their set for Songs for Healing.
To close the live music section of Songs For Healing, Vernon's blues/soul band Kath and the Tomkats will take the stage, and DJ Lady Fire of the Wolf King will close the night with a releasing dance party.
The wellness workshops run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and include Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga and Philosophy with Thomas Thomas; Nervous System Alchemy with Sarah Shepard; Introduction to Movement Medicine: Odissi Temple Dance with Devaki Thomas; Healing Drum Circle with Angela Roy; and finally a Shakti Flow Belly Dance with Jada Wolfkin. Lunch will be provided for all workshop participants.
Dinner and lunch available all day and evening from amazing local food vendors.
The evening concert sees doors open at 7 p.m., with food stalls and bar available to attendees. A welcoming prayer by Robin Genthon will start the evening followed by Stunflower sharing a set of healing songs, including audience participation, with bass player and former Samsara member Jacob Chatterton joining in. Kath and the Tomkats will share a set of upbeat covers and originals with a bluesy, funky dance vibe.
Songs for Healing is being sponsored and hosted by both Back to Earth and Camo Country.
Limited Tickets can be purchased at Back to Earth Store 6326 Hwy 6 Lavington, Tuesday-Saturday 10-5pm (250)-550-6789 or online by searching Eventbrite Songs for Healing.
